The High Point University baseball team dropped a disappointing 11-2 decision to Winthrop in the series opener between the two squads on Sunday afternoon at Coy O. Williard Sr. Stadium.

The Panthers (24-23, 9-7 Big South) fell for the 10th consecutive time to the Eagles (28-19, 12-1). Winthrop won their sixth straight game and tallied double-digit runs for the fourth game in a row.

HPU got on the board in the first as freshman Robby Kuzdale laced a leadoff double to left center. Jeff Cowan sacrificed Kuzdale to second who then scored on a double down the right field line by Bill Manion (pictured). Randy Schwartz appeared to drive in another Panther run but Winthrop centerfielder Tommy Lentz made a diving catch on a sinking liner and doubled off Manion to end the scoring threat.

High Point starter Eammon Portice (5-7) worked out of trouble in each of the first three innings stranding seven runners and holding the Eagles scoreless. Winthrop finally got to Portice in the fourth on a grand slam by Lentz. Rand Baughman got a one-out single followed by walks by Chris Carrara and Phil Carey setting up Lentz' shot over the leftfield wall putting WU in front 4-1.

Portice worked just five innings recording three strikeouts while giving up a season-high six walks on the day. In the first inning, Portice became the eighth Big South player to record 300 career strikeouts when he retired Billly Froehlich on strikes.

Winthrop starter Alex Wilson (4-3), who pitched a complete game on Sunday, set down 12 HPU batters in a row from the second to the sixth inning. Wilson allowed just five High Point hitters with only two coming after the second inning while only surrendering one walk.

The Eagles broke things open in the sixth inning with three runs off of HPU reliever Tony Flores. Winthrop used four hits and a sacrifice squeeze to up their lead to 7-1.

High Point got one back in the bottom of the sixth as Kuzdale and Manion combined again to plate a run. Kuzdale hit a one-out double to right center and stole third. After a walk by Cowan, Manion tallied a sacrifice fly to center.

Lentz struck again in the eighth hitting his second homerun of the day, a three-run shot, that capped the Winthrop scoring. Carey singled home a run in front of Lentz' homer.

Kuzdale went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a pair of runs scored to lead the Panthers at the plate. Manion drove in both of the runs for HPU.

Lentz paced a group of five Winthrop players with multi-hit performances going 4-for-4 with three runs scored and seven RBIs. Carey, Baughman and John Murrian each added three hits as the Eagles tallied 17 hits on the day.

HPU and Winthrop continue their Big South Conference series on Monday at 7 p.m.


SERIES NOTE: Tuesday's finale orginally scheduled for 2 p.m. has been changed to 4 p.m. at Williard Stadium.